PENNDOT'S JEFFERSON COUNTY CREWS PREPARE FOR WINTER INSPECTION, WEATHER
Punxsutawney, PA (October 18) - With the changing seasons comes changing weather. Falling leaves will soon turn to falling snow. PennDOT Engineering District 10 is pleased to announce that the crews in all five of its county maintenance offices will be prepared when Jack Frost blows into town, bringing snow and ice with him.
To ensure all equipment is in working order for the upcoming winter season, PennDOT's Jefferson County Maintenance Office at 205 Witherow St., Punxsutawney, will conduct its annual inspection of equipment at 9 a.m. Monday, October 23. All winter maintenance equipment will be displayed and inspected to ensure readiness. Media representatives are invited to attend the inspection.
"Winter weather can be unpredictable, but that doesn’t mean we have to enter the season with uncertainty," said George W. McAuley, assistant district executive for maintenance. "Our customers should be assured that we are prepared for whatever winter throws at us. Our people are ready, and our equipment is ready. We'll meet the challenge as it comes, so people on the roads can get to wherever they need to go."
Jefferson County PennDOT is responsible for maintaining 555 miles of State roadway, which correlates to 1,146 lane miles needing snow and ice removal during each winter event.
To prepare, the county has already stored 6,143 tons of salt and 17,643 tons of anti-skid materials at its five stockpile locations strategically located throughout the county for timely, efficient and effective service for motorists. With a budget of $760,000 for 2006-2007 winter maintenance, the Jefferson office is prepared to order more materials should the need arise.
This winter, the PennDOT maintenance office in Jefferson County will have 65 full-time equipment operators and eight temporary equipment operators on staff to handle its fleet of 30 plow trucks, three graders, six loaders, two anti-icing trucks and one snow blower.
Motorists with winter maintenance concerns are asked to call 1-800-FIX-ROAD to contact their nearest county maintenance office. The Jefferson County Maintenance Office will be staffed 24 hours a day beginning Saturday, October 28. |